Balanitis xerotica obliterans as a more common cause of penis foreskin stricture than generally presumed

Abstract

Balanitis xerotica obliterans is a disease that affects male reproductive organ and is considered to be a version of lichen sclerosus vulvae that is relatively common in the female external reproductive organ. In the last couple of years, a number of papers appeared stating that this condition is a more common cause of stricture of the penis foreskin than it has been assumed. Given the fact that balanitis xerotica obliterans is considered by the European Association of Urology to be a precancerous lesion for penile carcinoma, our intent is to remind the colleagues that every penis phimosis that is suspected to have occurred on the basis of balanitis xerotica obliterans requires histopathologic evaluation. We continue our research at our Department of Pediatric Surgery to confirm this notion.